The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #65117 Message #1069483
Posted By: Abby Sale
10-Dec-03 - 12:14 PM
Thread Name: Doon the Moor
Subject: Doon the Moor
There are four or so versions in Digital Trad but none help my question:
I'm listening to Peter Bellemy's lovely version of "Doon the Moor." I can't _quite_ tell just what she's doing there with the dew among the heather. It's kinda interesting that every of the many versions of the song have her doing something different - mostly all Mondegreens of each other.
1) Anyone know fer sure what Bellemy sings?
2) Can any refer me to a Scottish version other than "Skippin' Barfit?"
2 1/2) Has 'Comin thro' the craigs o' Kyle,' been collected by anyone besides Burns?
Bellamy sings: One morn in May when fields were gay Serene and pleasant was the weather, I spied a lass and a very bonnie lass; She was [....] from the dew from among the heather Down the moor.
Some others versions: I trudged along with the lilt of a song My heart as light as any feather Until I met with a very bonnie lass She was brushing the dew frae amang the heather, Doon the moor,....
I rode along to the huntsman's song My heart bein' light as any feather, Until I met with tha wee lass A-brushin' the dew from off the heather Doon the moor etc.
As I was walkin' doon yon hill It was in a summer evenin', It was there I spied a bonny lass Skippin' barfit through the heather.
As I roved along with my hunting song My heart as light as any feather. I met a pretty maid upon the way, She was tripping the dew down from the heather
One morn in May the fields were gay Serene and pleasant was the weather I spied a lass and a very bonny lass She was scoopin dew in among the heather Down the moor
Notes from Sam Henry's Songs of the People: Other titles: "Among....," "The Blooming....," "Bonnie Lassie amang...," "Doon (Down) the Moor," "Heather on the Moor," "Herding Lambs amangst...," "The lass amang...," O'er the Muir;" cf. "Far up Yon Wide and Lofty Glens," "Queen amang...," "Skippin Barfit thro the..."